When you refinance your mortgage, everything hinges on the appraisal. Here's what appraisers look at, how to make your home look as valuable as possible and ways to fight back if the valuation comes in too low.

Paradox: The Fatal Flaw In Raising The Retirement Age

The push to raise the federal retirement age has waxed and waned in recent years but comprises a dedicated cadre of powerful politicians and wealthy advocates. It is a recurring feature of debates about how to reduce the long-term debt and contain safety-net spending on retiree programs like Social Security and Medicare.